National team in State to study women status

A seven member team of High Level Committee on Status of Women from central ministry headed by its chairperson, Dr. Pam Rajput, is in the State to study comprehensive status of women and analyse what women are undergoing in the State
The high level committee team held a meeting with the State government officials at the Chief Secretary conference hall on February 6, where the State chief secretary, CJ Ponraj, chaired the meeting welcomed the State guests.
The chief secretary, in his introductory speech, said that the committee has rightly chosen to visit Nagaland for their study on analyzing the status of women. He said that Nagaland is comparatively ahead of many others about their women’s status in    terms of education where there is no discrimination on gender basis and therefore women also enjoy equal opportunity of employment in the State. The chief secretary also said the State has a high rate of literacy percentage where women are found to be better in their studies adding it has produced highly qualified persons in various fields where women have equal share, which speaks volumes for their status.
He said women in Nagaland are quite communicative and expressive and with their educational qualities, they have come to a stage even at the national level. However, the chief secretary said that besides the good educational background and economic status, the absence of women in the political arena needs to be addressed. In regard to this phenomenon, Ponraj said that it speaks about mindset and further said that change in the area needs to take place.
The chairperson of the High Level Committee on the status of women, New Delhi, Dr. Ram Rajput, in her address, said that gender component is there everywhere. Speaking about her meeting with the State Women Commission and State Social Welfare Board on the previous day, she recalled her interaction with small children where a young girl replied her on being questioned that she wanted to become a successful woman.
Dr. Pam Rajput stressed on skill development for women and also said that the State Labour Department could take up skill welfare scheme. She encouraged the officers of the related departments to converge for some visually specific capacity building and placement for women and further suggested the government to formulate a state policy on women as women have specific role.
After hearing from the officers of various departments, the members of the commission expressed their views and suggested that the state women core group should have innovative document. The state could have more skill development programme through NEC, DONER; increase of women employment etc. The members have also expressed opinions that in a patriarchal society like the Nagas, changes of women and girls should be recognized and that analysis should be made if there could be denial as in a traditional society like them where women could be suffering silently. They said situational analysis could be exercised and evaluate by setting a trend.
The chief secretary, in his closing remarks, expressed the need for gender equality budgeting in the planning process keeping in mind the age old traditional role and status of women in the Naga society. He said such planning and budgeting would capacitate the women in transition and prevent denial to women for perpetuity.
The meeting was attended by departments with potentials for appropriate plans and schemes such as Planning & Coordination, APC, Labour & Employment, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Industries, Economics & Statics, Medical, Special Secretary Home (Police) and Urban Development.